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Fourth Period-Haymore

Month: September 2015

9 Ways to be happy and make something of your life – Gordon B Hinckley

Be Grateful

Being grateful is necessary in achieving happiness. As people we take a lot for granted and often miss noticing how fortunate we are to be alive and to have what we have. If we were to take into consideration all that we have, we would appreciate it so much more and that brings a feeling of fulfillment to our lives that inevitably brings us closer to happiness. Take for example those who do not have homes, we who do are so lucky to have shelter, whether it is a house, an apartment, a loft, we still have a roof over our heads. Then consider those who have no food and no shelter, we who have something to eat complain about eating it when people don’t even have food themselves. Then think of your family, some people don’t have moms, some people don’t have dads, or sisters, or brothers, and we have to be thankful for what we do have in our lives. We never know when those things can be taken from us so we have to consider the moment and realize that we do need certain things in our lives and certain people and honestly we are lucky and blessed even to have them. I will apply this in my life by remembering to give thanks to those i appreciate and demonstrate my appreciation before it’s too late.

2. Be smart

Being smart doesn’t have to mean knowing the names of deep sea creatures, or all the formulas of math concepts. Being smart can be being smart in your decisions such as planning and evaluating your actions. If you are smart and plan ahead for your summer for example, you would have activities to enjoy instead of wasting time being bored. Happiness can come from intelligence. The pride we receive from awards from grades like the honor roll and so on bring us happiness. Knowing more can bring us happiness because we feel more informed and focused on our surroundings. I f we make smart decisions our life becomes easier and leaves space for more fun and memorable moments. Intelligence can be measured by your decisions you take and the decisions you don’t take, similarly by the knowledge you do have and the creativity you also include. Knowledge is power. In any situation knowing more makes you superior. Being smart can e unleashing your mind to show more than just what is required. Use your intelligence to baffle, use it to amaze, use it to find the beauty in life. With knowledge you can also come to recognize so much that ignorance lacks to comprehend, you can find beauty in the way the world is, and that on its own brings happiness as you realize that there is so much out there you have yet to discover. Personally, i will apply being smart in my life by questioning aspects, by learning and discovering, by expanding my mind’s capability to be free and to believe and dream and reflect and propose ideas, and to find my happiness in noticing and evaluating all i am fortunate to have.

3. Be involved in good works

Be involved in good activities such as volunteering, or doing something that betters you or others in doing so. Personally i volunteer in a hospital and working in a hospital i attend to all medical professionals and patients. I learn each day about attending to medical procedures and how to assist a patient in need. Taking vitals, feeding, cleaning, paperwork, assisting in loading and unloading ambulance passengers. I also belong to a club in school that focuses on bettering and ensuring personal and general health currently we are working on a fundraiser for funding organizations and research and treatment for cancer patients. It brings happiness to know you thought of more than yourself. It feels good to help others making sure you are not the only one happy. Being involved in good works also does not mean joining clubs, no it can mean making yourself better, finding ways from bettering your own life. Maybe if you’re an alcoholic, try slowly to drink less and then one day you might actually just stop. Maybe you were involved in gangs once, and now you are not and want to channel your energy for good, maybe recycling, maybe art or writing. Life can always get better, you just have to want it to get better. Just keep your outlook in an area with lots of sunshine and better horizons.

The essential question is what are you doing with your life? Are you happy? Focus on involving things that better life.

I intend to apply this by remaining involved in wholesome involvement in my life.

4. Be clean

Being clean always seems to represent hygiene cleaning but honestly the word clean means being rid of toxins or dirt, or being purified, or cleansed. This can go for a lot of topics. If only the world cared about cleaning their souls and conscience as much as they take showers and wash their clothes. When you think of being clean, you imagine a clean house, clean clothes, and soapy showers.

Everyone can handle spring cleaning, yet they only clean the surface of their lives. Rid your mind and heart of toxins and filth and stains the way you wash your clothes and carpet, and one day you might honestly feel truly clean. Personally i take at least one shower a day sometimes two,morning and night, and i clean my house and organize my things, it helps me feel less cluttered. But sometimes we got to take initiative and clean ourselves out. Clean out the hate from our minds, release the vengeful thoughts, let go of the pain of the past, and truly clean ourselves inside. If you are to rid yourself of the filth inside yourself then you have no choice to be clean.

Some toxins inside us can include:

Hate

Greed

Shallowness

Envy

Self pity

Emotions to remove are:

Anger

Stress

Frustration

Sadness

Only by removing the source of unhappiness can one truly be happy. Did you know? We can choose. We can choose what we feel and how we react as we feel about it. If you feel love people kiss, if you feel sad you can cry or not cry, when you feel mad you can become violent or try to find peace, you can let the world get to you or you can get the world for all that it’s worth. Clean your mind, your heart, and soul from the dirt of that outside. You wouldn’t let someone walk in your house with dirty shoes staining your clean carpet, don’t let them come in and stain your life or your heart. Remain clean in who you associate with and what you do.

5. Be True

Being true can represent so many things. Being true to your word, being truthful. Being true to who you are. Being true to what you believe in. Life tests us, all the time. Be true to who you are and never letting people change you and what you believe in. Happiness isn’t ever an easy goal, why? because so many people want it, you fight for it, pursue it, you dream and plan for it. Being true to the person you are and to yourself is hard, society makes comments, you start to question yourself, you doubt in your abilities. Being happy is knowing you are who you are and how you are and that it is great. Realize this: everyone wants happiness, everyone is different. Meaning the way you have to pretend to be something else, others do too. The way you want to accomplish things, others do to. Some of us are just swayed by society and temptation and pressure to stray from being true to ourselves. Be true to who you are and understand that who you are is exactly who you are meant to be.

Be true to who you are. For example in Mulan by Disney the character must be true to herself to save her family, her country and herself. We fight for what we need, we fight for happiness by not letting the world change who we are. Change the world but don’t let the world change you. I will continue applying this to find my happiness by remaining who i am and not letting my situation get to me.

6. Be Positive

Life is only going to be happy if you yourself are happy.confident in opinion or assertion; fully assured:emphasizing what is laudable, hopeful, or to the good; constructive. The reason i state this is because you yourself have the power to feel however you choose. Being positive helps you feel great and realize all the good you have. Negativity causes sadness and pain in one. If you are positive and say you are going to accomplish something and will not stop trying until you do then you are eventually inevitably going to accomplish your goal because you were positive and confident that you could. Positive is such a good trait to have and is very useful. Your smile is contagious and can make anyone’s day brighter just by smiling. Positivism is going out there and facing things with a smile and hope for the best. Many people are negative, but it is so rare to find someone happy and that is so valuable. Changed the world but never let the world change you. Going out there and deciding you’re going to make the day joyful and happy and hoping other’s days go well too. Negativity has a way of pulling someone’s mind into darkness, darkness that is hard to crawl out from and sometimes we need kindness and hope to remind us that good is out there. Be positive, and maybe you too can make the world a more positive place.

I intend to be positive because there is so much out there i want. I want to live and be free and happy in the purest way possible. Being positive reminds me that no matter what the situation is, i can always find happiness either for myself or others.

7. Be Humble

Being humble by definition is not being proud or arrogant, having a sense of modesty. Be humble as in don’t boast or make others feel inferior or yourself to feel superior.

8 Psychological Benefits of Being Humble

1. Soothe the soul

2. Excellence in leadership

3. Higher self-control

4. Better work performance

5. Higher grades

6. Less prejudice

7. More helpful

8. Better relationships

Being humble has always helped in different areas, but most importantly your self mind and morals. Being humble teaches you to acknowledge the small things in life and to realize that you’re doing good, but there is no reason to make others feel bad. It honestly makes you a better leader and a greater one in front of the given people you are leading.

I strive to be humble in all that i do because if i constantly boast upon my self then the success is no longer success but an arrogant comment. I will stay humble to achieve my goals and long after i have achieved them.

8. Be Still

To Be Still is a conscious state. A state of mind where all outside forces are removed. To Surrender to the Omnipresent. To be one with the universe. A one way line of communication from the powers that be. Waves of Truth. Being still is separating yourself from the current situation and being one with the moment. Close your eyes, separating mind from body, spirit from the body. As if all thoughts are the moment. I propose it would be similar to thinking, remembering, daydreaming or nighthinking. To find that nirvana, that bliss moment of perfection, is to find happiness. When every thought is superior to the external forces. Be still, take mental photographs, remember memories, reflect on the little details of life. Look at the shape of the raindrops, the smiles of those you meet, realize the beauty that is so hidden in the world. You can find the beauty in everything and that makes life beautiful, leaving you in awe of the moment. Starstruck by the wonder of living.

The world is constantly moving that is understandable, but breathe. Find peace in a situation, don’t stress, don’t worry, being happy is not that hard.

9. Be Prayerful

The nine ways to be happy can be used in so many aspects of life. They are ways of learning, reflecting, finding happiness. They keep your soul clean, cleanliness brings clarity. I will appreciate what i have in life, my friends and family. And i will always remember to appreciate what i have before i lose it. I will remember to think and reflect and be smart. To be involved in the good parts of life. To remain clean from my soul. To be true to who i am and what i believe. Stay positive and challenge adversity. To be humble and know that what i do is enough and i do not need recognition. To remain aware of my life and to never stop seeing the beauty in living.

We must know that commitment is hard, you have to persevere and keep your chin up. For example, marching band. It is not as easy as it seems. We play, dance, smile, remember notes,must have 2.0 GPA or better, we do physical exercise as punishment, we have long practice in uncomfortable weather, remember positions, remember steps, march, and wear these heavy bulky uniforms. Under all the loud fun musics, and the happy smiles, we sweat, we run laps as discipline, we practice daily, we have practices on weekends, we play all the time. We play in the heat, in the rain, when our fingers are numb and we are cold in December, we play all the time. We have personal issues sometimes and extra school work on us but we manage. Commitment. We love music, simple. We play because we love it. We play because we can. We play because we change the game. When the cheer leaders’s voices are hoarse and flips are out of the question, we play. The football kickoff, we play. The touchdown, we play. Halftime, we play. Winning or losing, we play. We go to practice, and practice hard, and memorize and don’t complain. This is commitment. Late to practice? Missed a note? Profanity used? 10 Push ups on the spot. We aren’t just playing because it was god given talent, no, we are committed. There are days were we play bad, real bad, and it does not discourage us any bit. We are committed to the music.

” The key to freedom is obedience. The more obedient we are, the more freedom we have.” – Boyd K. Packer

PATIENCE

The quote above demonstrates patience and patience is a key factor when dealing with life.

” You can’t calm the storm. So stop trying. What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” – Timber Hawkeye

You cannot avoid obstacles, there is times when you have to go and overcome it whether or not you feel ready for it. Patience helps us through the toughest of situations and solves so many more problems than any of us know. A ninja is taught patience, before they can kick and flip, they learn to become one on their own and to be patient as individuals. Why? Patience creates swift, precise, calm moves. If ninjas were not patient, they would jump all over and not get far, they would swing at their opponent and miss and miss until they are tired. We must be like ninjas. Observe a problem, be calm about a problem, and strike with calmness to achieve greatness. Sometimes in life, you wake up and realize that as soon as you get to work/ school, you will be challenged. You can run at it, sweaty, red, and out of breath. Or you can walk steadily to its face and tell it “Excuse me” and walk past. How we handle a situation is what matters in the end, not the situation itself. Another scene to picture, depression. Say you are depressed about the things going on in your life. You can not change certain things, but you can change how you look at them. Utilizing patience in life leads to more chances to live. Patience also ties into freedom, because when a scenario can’t trouble or frustrate you, then you are free of problems. Obedience requires patience, because sometimes the rules or commands we must follow require patience to finish and complete the task obediently.

my goals in life are completed with patience and they take time. Anything good takes effort and patience. One goal in life is to be patient about every scenario i am faced with. With patience i can accomplish all those goals, maybe not today or tomorrow or the next but someday i will. I WILL.

A smile is an expression of joy, of emotion, perhaps hope, maybe support, or encouragement.

Anyone can smile, and every smile is beautiful. No matter if they’re missing teeth, have no tongue, or something, it is still beautiful. Why? Because it’s a simple act of being human. When we are happy it becomes uncontrollable, when we want to praise another it happens. You ever just looked at someone, and smiled? You smiled cause for that moment, that fragment of life, you felt happy. happy to be there, to know them, to be you, to breathe, to live. Very few people can say they had never smiled throughout their whole lifetime because it is close to impossible. Next time someone smiles at you, perhaps smile back, who knows what can happen. it might just brighten someones day.

It boosts your immune system: Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system.

Smiles are contagious: It’s not just a saying: smiling really is contagious, scientists say. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own.

Smiles Relieve Stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress.

It’s a universal sign of happiness: While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance.

You have the power to brighten another’s day with just one smile. Smiles are universal happiness. Everyone and Anyone can smile. Never be ashamed of your smile, ever, because at least you smile, that is powerful because you aren’t afraid to let the world in on your happiness and to spread it with others. I’ve smiled before, because someone else smiled at me. For the remains of that day i couldn’t stop smiling, everywhere i went i greeted people smiling, and vice versa. My days have always been better when i smile, it’s like sunshine, like contagious. We must always keep hope and happiness, and not let obstacles and tragedy change us. Let’s start a smile chain, i smile, you smile, …..smile 🙂

Optimism is having hope. Optimism is being enthusiastic about the future or life itself. Optimism is finding happiness in dark situations. Optimism is seeing the better side of an unfortunate event. Optimism is being strong. Optimism is a backup weapon in the face of unbeatable battle.It becomes the dagger in your side utility belt in a zombie apocalypse. Optimism can be being positive, but it is not limited to a smile or being happy. Optimism can be used in so many areas of life whether in losing scenarios, or winning. No one ever really notices when they’re happy or when they’re being optimistic . Sometimes it’s the little, “i know things are bad, and they could get worse, but at least I’m not at the worst yet,” or when things are at it’s worse, “it’s only temporary.” That is hope. That is strength. That is you saying, life still hasn’t beat you. It’s proving that the fight isn’t over, and you aren’t easily beaten. Optimism is a trait to have forever, because with that power you can not lose. Optimism is a survival kit equipped with a spray can of ,” I believe I can,” a gauze of, “I’m not finished,” and cookie flavored with, ” i still have hope.”

“I was staying in the Millennium Hilton Hotel, directly across the road from the twin towers on Church Street. I was standing at the window taking photos of the view when I heard the sound of the plane approaching. It seemed normal at first until in a few split seconds it turned into a roar, followed by a massive explosion. I’m sure as I can be that whoever was flying that jet put it in full throttle just before it hit, as the screech sounded just like when a plane is taking off.

I’m sure as I can be that whoever was flying that jet put it in full throttle just before it hit, as the screech sounded just like when a plane is taking off.

-Penny

I watched at the window while the enormity of the disaster began to unfold, watched as we realised people were trapped on the floors above the explosion, as fire and police rescuers streamed into the building.

People were throwing whatever they could out of the windows – tables, water coolers etc. – to break the glass and get air. I could see them hanging out of windows, then to my horror I realised people were beginning to jump to their death rather than being burned alive. What a terrible choice to have to make. And there was nothing I, or as it turned out, anyone else, could do to help.

I saw what I’m pretty sure was a policeman killed by a person who fell on him.” Penny, witness, spoke to ABC news in an article published telling her story of the horror she witnessed. Link To Penny’s Account on 9/11

“Moises Rivas, 29, a chef at the Windows On The World restaurant on the 106th floor desperately tried to reach his wife – but she was out doing the laundry.

‘Tell her I’m OK,’ he quietly told his stepdaughter. ‘Tell her I love her no matter what.’

No one who showed up that day expected to die. It’s insane how life is unfortunately unexpected. Any person today can face the same realization. We all die. Depressing, but true. We could all go through a disaster such as this and we can all die in accidents or health. It shows how valuable life is to us and how much we don’t use it to it’s fullest capacity. Some of those who died perhaps got into arguments prior leaving their spouses without any goodbyes or i love yous. Imagine losing a father fighting the fire of the buildings, losing a daughter walking down that street, losing a mother as secretary in an office. tell them that you love them before it is to late.

“Decisions Determine Destiny” by Thomas S. Monson states that every decision we make changes our fate and outcome. Every single action, or word spoken can alter life. For example, not brushing your teeth results in teeth problems in the future and washing your hands daily betters your hygiene and removes bacteria. Ever word is power. I can give you a compliment to brighten your day or ruin it with words of hate. Every single little minuscule significant or insignificant moment counts. I can be healthy and live up to 89 years old or die today in a car accident. The term, “You only live once,” a phrase better understood and used for good. This statement of decisions and destiny envelops various personal attributes for a person to have, Such as kindness, understanding, responsibility, courage, and manners in a sense.

Courage brings us to create and move the world further into the future. Courage to do more, to try, to fight, to believe in something other than just you. Many decisions in life require courage to even consider deciding. To be courageous, to lack fear, to resent the idea of giving up or never trying to accomplish the impossible or rare or new. Courage is simple. It does not have to mean the trait of a soldier going to war, or the courage to skydive. Courage can be trying new opportunities such as a job or club or organization. Venturing the unknown territory that bewilders man. I have courage trying a new fruit, i have courage taking a test, courage is everywhere. Say you never got bravery to try something new, who would you even be right now, where would you be? Exactly, you took the courage inside you and you grew to be you, and that’s pretty uplifting.

Caring is displaying kindness,compassion, and sympathy for others. The work or practice of looking after those unable to care for themselves, especially sick and elderly people. Often Caring is nurturing and endearing. Everyone does it at least once in their lives. Mothers care for their children, friends care for each other, family cares for each relative.

For example in the tale from Dr. Seuss, The Lorax, a young boy puts all his efforts into saving a seed to plant a tree that will help the wildlife. The quote says that unless someone who cares comes along and changes something, nothing can change. Truth. Caring brings change. If people didn’t care for the environment, we wouldn’t have recycling programs and programs that clean the planet. If us, as humans, didn’t care for one another, we wouldn’t have red cross donations or walks to raise money or organizations bringing resources to countries in tough times. As people we come to care about those around us in various ways, everyone cares about someone. Who do you care about?

Boldness is being fearless in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring. not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent:brave.

Being bold is expressing something not everyone says or thinks or likes, it is daring to be different. It is sticking out in a crowd of faces. Good or bad, bold makes a statement. There are various ways a person can be bold whether it being the clothes they wear, their hair, or what they say. Usually bold people know they’re bold and honestly that is how the like it. to be far from the norms of everyday. To challenge adversity and growl in the face of fear. Boldness can often be a good trait to have as a person. For example boldness can make you stand out at a job or in a company, it can take you much further than being ordinary and plain. Boldness, can get you noticed, even famous. The only downside from being bold would be if the boldness came from something bad or humiliating or when you are alienated from society as an individual.

Attitude is the way you respond to things around you or the way you carry yourself as a person. A way of thinking, reacting, or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.

“If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.”

When faced with obstacles, most people give up or become negative, and often those initial reactions worsen their state. If you face a challenge with a smile or with optimism the challenge itself is no longer a challenge but just a situation you are nervous about. If you have to do a presentation for class and you do not want to, but have no choice, try to see the brighter picture. For example the grade you get is extra points in your total grade and that helps you in the long run. Everything changes when you view them differently. For example a person who is allergic to dogs might not find puppies as cute as someone who isn’t allergic. it’s all in the way we react with our attitude. Maybe next time instead of being negative or pessimistic, try and see the light in the dark.